Bonjour everyone! This will have to be a super quick one this week. So, it was a really great week!
We took a lot of trips out to our further areas of our sector this week. We first went to Aix les Bains. Such a beautiful place! We saw a lady in our branch there, and it was an hour walk to her house in the nice hot august sun. I'm getting such lovely tan lines here...haha. We contacted a lot on the way though, and we met so many interesting people. That just happens when you talk to every person on the street...My favorite was this little old French lady who said she was Christian. And then said "Haleluijah!" " Jesus Christ va revenir bientot!" (Jesus Christ is coming back soon). She was so cute! It reminded me of being back in the South. haha. That was very out of character for an old French woman.
Something about Aix les Bains...we got a ridiculous amount of cat calls, cars honking, little comments as we walked on the street. Someone asked us if we were for sell...awkward. My favorite of the day was the guy who said "tu est tres tres tres tres tres tres tres charmant!" (you are very, very, etc. charming). Haha he literally said that many tres. It was hilarious. When we got on the train to go home, there apparently had been this group of young guys that seemed rather rowdy that had just gotten on. My comp and I didn't know this, so we got on the steps to get on that car, and the conductor stopped us and told us not to get on, because he didn't want those boys messing with us, and to get on the car behind that one. We were so touched that a stranger would be so kind and thoughtful for our well-being. A little miracle that day.
So then we took a trip out to another member's house...I can't remember the name of the area. It was pretty far away. That is where I had my first real French mangez-vous. I've eaten with other people, but never native French people. HOLY COW. I have never had so much food in my life. They started out with like 4 or 5 different trays of vegetables. Ok...I've never been a big vegetable person. But here they're different. I was eating cucumbers and tomatoes like they were candy. So not like me as you well know! And then we had salad. And then we had pieces of lasagna that were as big as my head. Then we had bread with cheese. Then we had crepes with all different types of james for for toppings. Then when I finally thought it was over, they brought out huge plates of every kind of fruit and we ate that. I was super stuffed when all was said and done. It was so great though. The very next day we took another trip out to another member (way far out in the country-side, absolutely gorgeous) and she fed us another meal almost equally as big. 2 mangez-vous in one week! I can feel it in how my clothes are fitting me now...haha.
We had some up's and down's in the work this week, no surprise there. One of our most golden amis that we thought for sure was going to get baptized on Sept. 27th told completely did a 180. She still believes in reincarnation, doesn't think we need to repent of anything, doesn't think there's a gospel but that we can all make up our own, and now claims that she's already been baptized in her mind. We don't know what happened... well actually yes we do. The adversary! Opposition in all things! It's so annoying! Satan really likes to prevent anyone from getting to partake in the joys of the gospel. I realized just how much I loved her though when she told us that. Because my heart just sank and I about broke down into tears right there in front of her. Just watching that light leave her eyes, and seeing her consciously choose to leave the wonderful path that she had started on broke my heart.
But, we had some good success this week too. There is this absolutely wonderful couple from Iran that we've been seeing and who have been attending our English class, FHE's, and Movie Night's. (We show a church film every other saturday night). They came to both of those things this past weekend, and I got the chance to give them a BOM afterwards. They're going to read it! I know they will! They want to meet with us later this week. They are just so great.
Also, we popped in on our favorite Lebanese family this week, and they agreed to let us teach them! So, we're going to start that tomorrow! They also came to our English Class and movie night. We showed The Testaments, so I know they're all hooked now :)
I really love what I'm doing. This work is the greatest thing I could ever be a part of. Every day I can't get over how much happiness I feel for devoting this time to the Lord. Getting to share my testimony every day is the best feeling in the world. These people are so dear to my heart, and I'm so grateful to be serving them. This gospel is true people! I know it with all my heart!
Thank you for the prayers and the love! Y'all are the best.
Love,
Soeur Shields
P-day at my first cafe!
At one of the member's house we went to this week, she told us how she roller blades everywhere. I made the mistake of telling her I'm good at it. So, she had me give it a try :)
We celebrated Soeur Pagano's year mark by going and getting ice cream! Yes, that is why my face is so fat
Then that same day when we popped in on the Lebanese family, they happened to just be getting started on ice cream sundaes and gave us one. This is my bff Laetetia!! Again, why I'm getting so fat!
View from our Lebanese family's house. We always eat at this balcony table with them
Rima, Laetitia's mom, painted our nails while dinner was cooking :)
On Saturday we went bowling with our fav Lebanese family!
Romain!!! My favorite ever
Who says missionaries can't have fun? Bowling!
In case you wanted to see what our branch building looks like... here it is!